There’s Always Hope

Advertisements
Advertisements
September 19, 2022

4 min read

FacebookTwitterLinkedInPrintFriendlyShare

Nitzavim (Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 )

The biggest impediment to changing is not believing change is possible. The first stage in Drs. James Prochaska and Carlos DiClemente’s Stages of Change Theory is precontemplation. People in this stage are actively resistant to change. Often, this resistance is a result of previous attempts at changing that resulted in continual disappointments.

“Some precontemplators are so demoralized,” they write, “that they are resigned to remaining in a situation they consider their ‘fate.’” Once they give up, the problem usually spirals to even worse conditions. Not believing in our ability to change leads us to get stuck in our ways.

The curses that Moshe delineated in Parshat Ki Tavo were meant to serve as deterrents to abandoning God and turning to other gods. In this week’s Torah portion, Moshe addresses a subtype of individuals who may hear the threat of curses but react with indifference: “When such a one hears the words of these sanctions, he may fancy himself immune, thinking, ‘I shall be safe, though I follow my own willful heart’” (Devarim 29:18). Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm identifies two streams of thought within the Aramaic translations of this verse, each pointing to a different possible explanation for why someone would ignore such warnings.

The first stream, which he calls “Immunity Theory,” is based on Targum Onekolos, elucidated by Rashi. This person is so confident and obstinate and thinks that he will not be harmed by these curses. He believes he could act immorally and won’t get caught. He is above the law, in his own eyes, and is thus impervious to consequences.

The second stream—what Rabbi Lamm deems the more common explanation—is based on Targum Yonatan and is what Rabbi Lamm calls “Despair Theory.” The person acts not out of arrogance, but out of hopelessness. He thinks he has no choice. There is no ability to change. The evil inclination has him bound to repeat his behaviors. As is taught by the great Chassidic masters, and is later echoed by Prochaska and DiClemente, this despair will lead to even more sin.

The concept of Teshuva, which is a recurring motif in this week’s portion, serves as the antidote to this despair. Repentance “is not too baffling for you, nor is it beyond reach… it is not in the heavens… [n]either is it beyond the sea… Rather it is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it” (Devarim 30:12-14 according to Ramban). While perhaps it isn’t always easy, Teshuva is always an option. Nothing, our Sages tell us, could stand before repentance.

Even the apostate, Elisha ben Avuyah (known as Acher), who heard a Heavenly voice saying that “everyone can return except for Acher,” should have realized that even he could still return. There is always hope.

Rabbi Baruch Simon locates this idea within the first two verses of the Parsha as well. Everyone, we are told, stood before God. This included “your tribal heads, your elders and your officials, all the men of Israel, your children, your wives, even the stranger within your camp, from woodchopper to water drawer” (Devarim 29:9-10). The fact that Moshe goes out of his way to describe the different types of individuals present, highlights the importance of realizing that everyone is unique, and everyone has a role to play.

We should never underestimate what our fellow can accomplish. Included in everyone, is ourselves. We should never degrade our own abilities. Even if we have come up short in the past, Rabbi Simon writes, we are forbidden from losing faith in ourselves. We must always believe in our ability to improve.

The goal of the month of Elul is to move us from being precontemplators about our flaws to contemplators. To the extent that we have bad habits or behaviors that we have given up on changing, it is imperative that we shake ourselves out of this despair. We must believe that there is always hope. Nothing can stand in the way of repentance.

Click here to comment on this article
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
EXPLORE
LEARN
MORE
Explore
Learn
Resources
Next Steps
About
Donate
Menu
Languages
Menu
Social
.